Also referred to as the rope drop show, this show begins about 10 minutes before the park opens and includes the Hollywood characters that roam the streets during the day. It also includes classic cars and a director! It’s a really fun show. But remember your goal is to get as close to the front as possible so you can make a mad dash to Toy Story Mania (if that is your target.)

Located directly in front of you when you enter the park is the Sorcerer’s Hat. The hat is 100 feet tall and Mickey would have to be 350 feet tall to wear this hat! This is a great meeting place if you need to meet up with your party later or if you get separated.

Characters meet in sets around the Sorcerer’s hat at the following times:

The characters of High School Musical 3 take to the streets throughout the day in a high-energy performance of some of the hits from the movie. The show takes place in front of the Sorcerer’s Hat. The first and last shows will have the smallest crowds.

Hollywood Boulevard is the main street that runs to the Sorcerer’s Hat from the entrance. It has shops up both the left and right side selling exclusive Hollywood Studios merchandise, Mickey hats and more!

Throughout the day, you might encounter a variety of characters known as the “Citizens of Hollywood“. There are cabbies, policemen, reporters, gossip columnists, starlets and more! You can engage these characters in conversations, but don’t expect them to break character. I had one of the starlets chase me around a store telling me I had lost one of my kids. (I had a double stroller and my son was the only one with me.)

Look for the letters that have fallen out of the bulliten board in the TV room, what do they spell?

Tower or Terror is painted like that b/c you can see it from Morocco

My fact is that throughout the Tower of Terror there are references to the Twilight Zone Television serious. First is the poster in the lobby for the Anthony Fremont band who is playing at the tip top club tonight. In both libraries very high upon the very too shelf there is a devil headed fortune teller from the episode “The Nick of Time”. In the right library the broken glasses from the episode “Time Enough at Last”. In the left library the alien (decoded) To Serve Man book is on the shelf from the episode “To Serve Man”. The last one I know of is the ventriloquist dummy among the boxes and hotel items in the basement (the unloading area right after the ending film) from “The Dummy.”

Also, the attraction itself is 199 feet tall to prevent it from needing a blinking red light on top for planes.

When the building was still under construction it was actually struck by lightening!

Carrot & Celery Sticks with lite Ranch Dressing at Cool Set Products on streets of America

Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar at Dinosaur Gertie’s at Echo Lake

Nacho’s with cheese sauce at Herbie’s Drive In near Lights, Motor, Action

Funnel Cake at Oasis Canteen at Echo Lake

Churro at Pretzel Garden on Streets of America

Soup at Rosie’s All American Cafe on Sunset Blvd

Banana Split Cake at Starring Rolls on Sunset Blvd

Tiramisu at Starring Rolls on Sunset Blvd

Fresh Fruit Tart at Starring Rolls on Sunset Blvd

Chocolate Butterfinger Cupcake at Starring Rolls on Sunset Blvd

English Toffee Slab at Writer’s Shop on Streets of America

Smores Fudge Square at Villinas in Vouge on Sunset Blvd

Characters

Here are the characters that meet at Hollywood Studios and the approximate time that they meet. Always check the Times Guide when you arrive though. You can also find it online here (just click on the park you want along the top). He posts it on Saturday for the next week.

Green Army Men* – Find them walking around in front of Toy Story Mania during the day

Disney Animation Building

Sorcerer Mickey* – 10 am to 7 pm

The Incredibles* – 11:30 am to 2:30 pm & 3:40 to 6:30 pm

Winnie the Pooh* – 10:30 am to 6 pm

Characterpalooza – At 4:50 pm on nights that do not have Fantasmic, you might get lucky and catch these characters in the Art of Animation building:
1st set – Aladdin & Jasmine, Pocahontas & Meeko, Geppetto, Belle in her blue dress and cape, and Minnie.
2nd set – Hook & Mr. Smee, Rafiki, Mary Poppins, Queen of Hearts, and Goofy. *Each set stays for 20 minutes and might or might not repeat.

Stars of Playhouse Disney
Found in the Animation Courtyard between 10 am to 5:40 pm

Annie, Leo, June and Qunicy*– they come out in pairs. Be sure to ask the cast member when the other pair will come out.

Handy Manny*

During Extra Magic Hours, you can have a Dance Party with some of your favorite characters at the Animation Courtyard!

Sorcerer Hat Character Greetings
9 am, 9:55, 10:55 and 11:55 am

I’ve seen the following (if it is raining, look for them in Art of Animation)Minnie Mouse
Daisy and Donald (together!)
Goofy and Pluto
Stitch
Tigger and Pooh

Comments

I used to work in Hollywood Studios (back when it was Disney/MGM Studios) and we were told to never recommend the larger landmarks/attractions as meeting places. Too many people do so, and then it’s difficult to find your lost family member amongst the other lost family members!

We were told to always point out Guest Relations, as they can help reunite “lost parents” with their children. I always show my kids Guest Relations in any park we travel to (Disney or otherwise) and tell them to find someone with a name tag to help them find it if they cannot remember where it is. Guest Relations in Disney are terrific in reuniting families and will even offer little ones a snack and drink to help keep them calm. Most Guest Relations facilities also have movies playing, just in case. Also, I put a sticker or piece of tape on the inside of my sons’ shirts with my name and cell number in permanent marker, just in case they are found and forget the number while frightened (hopefully they wouldn’t forget the sticker is there!).

When we went this Nov, Sounds Dangerously was open, when in the past Nov it wasn’t, I assume because Star Tours is being refurbished, they have it open. We like the show but it does have parts where it is completely dark, something to consider with kids.

There are lots of cool places to take photos in HS, there is a Speeder Bike you can get on across from/near Star Tours. There is an umbrella attached to a lamppost near/backside Streets of America. There are giant Coke bottles in front of Backlot Tours. Also, check out the Muppets area, there are funny things written all over, especially in gift shop.

I think the High School Musical show has changed to a more generic Disney Music Rocks show. But not certain.

We were there in November, like someone else stated, and it wasn’t a busy time and sounds dangerous was open. I think it is open due to Star Tours being closed. We didn’t watched the show, but the little activities after the show are great. You don’t have to watch the show to play in that area. I love the 3D sound booths. Try them out for sure.

The speeder bike by Star Tours was gone, when we were there. I was very upset because I have taken a picture of my son there almost every year.

Speaking of that area, Jedi Training is wonderful. It’s not just for little boys either. The child does have to be 4. My son loved it and we loved watching him. He said he was a little bit scared of Darth Vader, but my son is only 4, so you can expect that.

For the Backlot tour, get there early and volunteer to be a part of the show. You might get wet, but my son loved seeing his grandmother and his dad in the show. It was a highlight of our trip.

Tower of Terror has an elevator that is a regular one, in case someone decides at the last minute that they don’t want to do the ride. My son had rode it the previous year, but wasn’t wanting to do it this time. So I talked him into going through it until right before we were getting on, and he had the option of not riding at that point. And that is what he did. Maybe next time he will ride it again. He loves Expedition Everest. So maybe.

I love Hollywood Studios. So many people chose to pass it up if they have young kids, but we have always found something to do there. Our last trip we spent two days there, at a slower pace with breaks and we still didn’t see and do everything. Did do the animation studio drawing class, and even my 4 year old liked it.

Jedi Training – my friend told me that you sign up to do the Jedi training camp ages 4-12. It is not a random pic.

Journey into Narnia – TOTAL waste of time! I saw 45 min lines and couldn’t believe it. You go into a room and see a presentation type thing while standing and then walk through a memorabilia room and that is it!

I agree with Jan. Don’t wait in a long line for Journey into Narnia. It is not worth it. It’s okay to see if the line is quick. I was really dissappointed. They could have made the attraction really cool, but it falls short.

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My name is Kristin and I am a coupon addict. My coupon addiction feeds my other addiction, Disney. How are the two related you ask? Well I have learned how to use the money I save by couponing to pay for my yearly trips to Disney World. And I am eager to share that knowledge with all of you!

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